MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- U.S. Marine Corps Col. Richard F. Fuerst, the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, hosted 23 Iwakuni City council members for the air station’s first Sound of Freedom Campaign at MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, June, 1, 2018.

The campaign consists of a series of events throughout the air station to give the city council members a better understanding of base operations and share insight on why maintaining readiness for Marine Aircraft Group 12, Carrier Air Wing 5 and Fleet Air Wing 31 is so important.

“As an air station, we would like the Iwakuni community to have a deeper understanding of why we have to fly as much as we do and that our procedures are safe and as professional as any organizations in the world,” said Fuerst. “I want the citizens of Iwakuni…to understand that we take every step possible to be good neighbors. I'm very concerned about both readiness, which takes many flights to gain and maintain, and being a good neighbor.”

The event started with Iwakuni City council members receiving a brief from Fuerst. The brief gave information on various units on the installation, aviation training and readiness, a review of safety policies and regulations, an update on the Defense Policy Review Initiative and key components that make MCAS Iwakuni so important to the defense of Japan. Additionally, the council members were provided an opportunity to ask questions to MCAS Iwakuni leadership and staff members during a luncheon, and they received a tour of the base.

Through additional knowledge and a deeper understanding, air station leadership can effectively educate Iwakuni residents on the importance of readiness, and its direct impact on national security and the collective success of both Japan and the United States.

“My goal is to host events like these on a routine basis,” said Fuerst. “We would like to do them more often.”